Automatic valve.



N.`H. SUREN.

AUTOMATIC VALVE.

APPLICATIQN rlLED1uNE14,1a15.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916 mirra faire. estrarre ornato NATHAN H. SUREN, 0F NEEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, SSIGNOR TO GAMEWELL FIRE ALARM TELEGRAPH COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y2, A CORORATIQN 0F NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

1,205AOS.

Patented Nov. 21, 19ML Original application led April 6, 1914, Serial No. 829,886. Divided and this application-filed .Tune 14,

" Needham, in the county of Norfolk and VState of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Automatic vYalves, of which the following 1s a specification.

This invention relates to automatic valves designed to be used in connection with' sprinkler' and other systems7 being a division of my application Ser. No. 829,886, iiled apra c, 191i.

vply-pipe 6 communicates with the inlet end The invention has for its object the provision ot means associated with a check-valve which is arranged between the supply and service sides 'ot the system, and by which 4said means serving as balancing means for the valve. Also in the provision of a pres` sure-controlled element operatively connected with the check-valve which is operated by the supply pressure and controlled by the service pressure, whereby the checa-valve is permitted to open upon the occurrence of a reduction in the pressure in the service-pipe, and to bc automatically closed when the pressure in said pipe is restored, said pressure-controlled element serving as balancing means for the valve. Also in the provision o a yielding connection between the checlc valve' and pressure-controlled element, whereby the check-valve is caused to remain in engagement with its, seat, or to be immediately restored if 'lifted by sudden or momentary iuctuations in the pressure due to water-hammer and the like.

Figure l is a central vertical section through the automatic valve, the parts being shown in elevationv Fig. Q is a side elevation with the end wall removed. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line AAB of Fig. 1. l? ig. if is a horizontal section on line- Cv--D ot' Fig. 1.

In the embodiment ot' my invention, as

here shown, 1 represents a casing having a conduit or passage 3, through it. The sup- I u n 7 and the servicepipe 7 communicates with Serial N0. 33,936.

the outlet end oi said casing, so that the conduit 3, constitutes a direct means of communication between the supply-pipe and servicepipe. Near the lower end-portion of the casing 1, and within the conduit an inwardly extending annular lip S is formed, which serves as a valve-seat, and said seat is preferably inclined with respect to the transverse line of the case.

pivotally supported checlrvalve 9 is arranged to cooperate with the seat 8, and when in engagement therewith, the continuity of the conduit 8 vis interrupted. The wall of the conduit 3, adjoining the seat 8, is formed with a recess 10, and the checkvalve 9 has arranged on it above said recess,

thereby to guide and assist in supporting the check-valve; and said check-valve also has a downwardly extended ear 12, engaging its pivotal connection which also assists in guiding and supporting it, particularly against downward movement, when elevated.

At the lower end-portion of the casing a lateral extension 2 is provided having a passage 5 through it 'communicating at one end with the conduit 3, and its other end has fitted into it an extensible element 13, in the form of a cylindrical body having a. convoluted wall to admit of longitudinal extension and contraction thereof. The opposingl end of the cylinder is closed by a cap 14,

having a surface area within the cylinder l approximating the surface area of/ the check-valve 9. The cap 14s is directly connected to the check-valve through the me dium of a rod composed of telescopically arranged sections 16 and 17, one end, of the rod being centrally connected to the cap and the opposing end to one end of a lever 18,

' fulcrumed at a pointintermediate its length on suitably formed ears arranged on the casing, the opposing end of the lever being pivotally connected to the supply side of the check-valve. A spring 15 encircles said center-rod 16, 1T, which is connected at its upper end with the cap 14, and at its lower end with thelever 18, said spring acting soA Ycontractively to shorten lthe connections lbetween the ca and check-valve and thereby hold the sections 16 and 17 of the telescopic rod abutted together at their adjacent ends and the `check-valve on its seat lor to restore it in case it is lifted by a sudden or momentary change in the pressure.

The cap 14 is provided in its upper portion with av cross-bar 20- to the terminals of which are connected springs 21, 21, 'secured r at their lower ends in any adjustable man,-4v

ner to the wall of the case, as shown in Figi 2. lhe'se springs act to oppose the exten- ,sioii-f the cylinder 13, and are adjusted tohold the cap in a predetermined position with the check-valve closed upon its seat at a minimum predetermined pressure in the service plpe.

An alarm-motor service-pipe 26 leads into the conduit', and has its upper open end controlled by .a diaphragm `27 carried by the check-Valve 9. above the -check-valveis or may be formed with aside-opening adapted to be closed by a removable cover 29 to provide access to the interior of the cade when desired.

When the sprinkler-system is empty, thel check-valve 9 1s positively held opendue to the contractive force of thesprings21, 21, and the 4contractiv'e movement of the cylinder 13, and the consequent operation of the lever 18. When the water is irst turned onthe conduit 3 provides aA meansfor delivering it to the sprinkling-system beyond the `casing' until such system is filled.

Immediately succeeding the filling-of 'they system, the incoming water iills ythe cylinder 13, and extends the same against the pull of the springs 21, and ,against the inherent resiliency of the cylinder. This extensive movementv of the cylinder continues I until the cap 14 has been moved to a position, wherein, through the medium of' the i f two Jforces; namely, those tending to close center-rod and lever 18, the check-valye 9 is actuated to close upon its seat. This is f the normal position of thepartS. I

"When the check-valve 1s closed upon lts 'seat it is substantially balanced by the prssure upon both sides of it, and as said checkvalveis of substantially the same area as or seat the valve, are the pressure in the service pipes acting againstv the service side of the valve, andthe pressure inthe supply side of the system acting against the lmem- Tlie wall of the case,

ber 1 4. The other two forces; namely, those tendmg tol open the valve, are the pressure on the supply side -of the valve 9 and the springs 21. As stated the members 14 and 9 are of approximately equal area and the force actingl directly against the valve 9 from the supply side of the system is therefore. neutralized by the opposing pressure against the member 14. The springs 21 are of 'such retractive strength that the pull which they exert is equal to the force exerted under normal eonditons'by the pressure in the service pipes against the service side of the .valve 9. Thus the tendency of the springs 21 to normally contract the lextensible member 13 and thereby open the valve 9 is, under normal-conditions, neutralized by the pressure in the service pipes which acts against th'e valve 9, and the valve is thus, under normal conditions, balanced and maintained in closed position. Should the.

pressure in the service pipes become subnormal, however, itis obvious that While the forces of pressure acting'v against the supply side of the valve and the member 14 will n balance each other, the springs 21, being unbalanced, will Aact tol contract the member, 1.3, and thereby open the valve. As the valve-commences to open the pressure in the supply pipe will be expended by forc- `ing the vwater into the service pipes and the pressurev acting against the member 14; will be thereby reduced, consequently lessenin'gV @the opposition to the contracting of the' springs 21 and hastening of the openngof .the valve. In case'the pressure in the sup,

ply-pipe becomes sub-normal' from any.'v i cause the pressure 1n the lservice-plpe will;l hold the check-valve onts seat, and through theintermediate connections between said,l valve and the cap 14, sald cap will be held in its normal position, notwithstandingthe pressure .in the cylinder is reduced.' By the lconnection of the check-valve 9 with the cap 14 through the telescopic-rod connection, and the spring 15,' v,it will be seen that upon a sudden lifting movement of the check-valve 9, due to a momentary fluctua- 'ltion 'of the pressure,`as from .Water-hammer or other cause, 'the sections'of the'telescopicrod will be separated and the spring 15 will be extended, and Yupon a sudden lifting` movement of the capA 14. from a like cause, said' sections of the rod will be separated and the springs 15 and 21 and the corrugated cylinder will or may be extended, but

immediately upon cessation lof the increased pressure the aforesaid parts will return to normal, so that-the valve is immediately restored oris held on its seat.

I claim i 1. An automatic valve for sprinkler-systems or the like including a balanced automatic check-valve controlling direct communication between the supply and service sides of the system, and movable balancing means responsive to the pressure of the supply side of the System, and means flexibly connecting said' balancing means With the check-valve.

2. An automatic valve for sprinkler-systems and the like including a casing formed to provide a Conduit forming a communication between the supply and service sides of 'the system, a check-valve arranged in the conduit, an expansible actuator'in open communication with the pressure romthe supply side of the system, and means to ilexibly connect said actuator with said check-valve.

`3. An automatic valve for sprinkler -systenis and the like including a casing formed to provide 'a conduit forming a communication between the supply and service sides ot the system, a check-valvearranged in the conduit, a corrugated cylinder closed at one end and its other end being in open communication with the pressure from the supply side of the system, and means arranged Within the cylinder to flexibly connect said cylinder With the check-valve.

e. An automatic valve for sprinkler-sys teins and the like including a casing formed to provide 'a conduit forming a communication between the supply and service sides of the system, a check-valve arranged in the conduit, an extensible cylinder open at its lower end to the pressure froml the supply side of the system, a cap closing the upper end of the cylinder, and a yielding connection between the cap and valve, arranged within the cylinder and casing.

5. An automatic valve for sprinkler-systenis and the like including a casing forme-d to provide aconduit forming a communication between-the supply and service sides of the system, a check-valve arranged in the conduit, an extensible cylinder open at its levier end to the pressure from the supply side ot the system, a capclosing the upper end of the cylinder, a lever supported Within the casing and connected at one end to the valve, a telescopic rod connecting the opposing end of the lever with said cap, and a spring also connecting said opposing end of the lever and the cap.'

6. An automatic valve for sprinkler-systems and the like including a casing formed to provide a conduit forming communication lletween the supply and service sides et' the system, a clieclmfaive arranged in the conduit, an extensible cylinder open at one end to the pressure Yfrom the supply side of the system and closed at tno opposite end, a yielding connection between said cylinder and the check-valve, and springs connected with the cylinder and arranged oppose extension therepf.

7. An 'automatic valve 'for tems and the like including a cas4 va lve arranged in the casing and controlling passage of the fluid through the casing from the supply side to the service side of the system, an extensible cylinder open at one end to the pressure troni tlie supply side ot' the system and closed at the opposite end, a lever supported Within the casing and connected at one end-to the valve, a telescopic rod connecting the opposing end of the lever and the closed end of the casing.

8. An automatic valve for sprinkler-systems and the like including a casing, a checkvalve therein and controlling passage of the luid through the casing from the supply side to the service side or' the system, an cxtensible cylinder open at one end to the 'pressure supply side of the sys-teni, al cap closing the opposite end ot the cylinder, a lever supported Within the casing and connected at one end tothe valve, and a springcontrolled telescopic rod connecting the opposing end of the lever and the cap.

9. An automatic valve for sprinkler-systenis and the like including a casing, acheckvalve therein and controlling the passage of the fluid through the casing from the supply side to the service side of the system, an extensible cylinder open at one end to the pressure supply side of the system,A a cap closing the opposite end of the cylinder, a.: lever supported Within the casing and connected at one end to the valve, a spring-controlled telescopic rod connecting the opposing end of the lever and the cap, and springs mounted to oppose the extensible movement of the cylinder.

10. An automatic valve for sprinkler-says! ten-is and. the like including a casing formed to provide a conduit forming communication between the supply and service sides of the system, a check-valve arranged in the conduit, an extensible cylinder opening at its lower end to the pressure from the supply side of the system, a cap closing the upper end of the cylinder, and movably bodily Il i as the cylinder is extended and retracted, a yielding connection between the capI and valve, said cap and valve presenting substantially equal areas to the pressure in all positions they occupy and springs connected with said cylinder and normally urging its retraction and through the yielding connection urging the valve open.

11. An automatic valve for sprinkler-systems and the like including a casing formed to provide a conduit forming communication between the supply and service sides ot the system, a check-valve arranged in the conduit, a pressure-controlled element open to the pressure from the supply side of the system and arranged to control an alarm, a yielding connection between the said pressure-controlled element and the .check-valve involving a pivoted lever to which the checlcvalve is pivotally connected, and

means arranged to guide and assist insupporting said check-valve during its move-y ments. v

12. A valve including a valve-easing, a valve-member movable therein, and expansible balancing means 'yieldably eonneete'cl 1to the valve and exposed to the Apressure on the intake side of the valve. e

13. 'A valve including a valve-casing, a valve member movable thereim vexpansilole balancing means yieldably connected-to the valve and exposed to the piessui'e on the intake side ox alle valve, and yieldable means arranged to oppose thel expansion of said expansible balancing means l 14. The combination with a uid conduit of a valve including a 'valve-casing inter-H posed in the conduit, a valve-member, an

expansible balancing-member exposed to the pressure on the intake side of'the'valve, a lever freely connected to the valve', yieldable means conneotin the free end of the lever and the expansi le balancing member, and yiellalolel means arranged to oppose the expansion of the expansiblembalanoing :nem-v In testimony whereof, have signed my naine to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses v NATHAN H. SUREN.

Witnesses:v l

H. lDAvs, v C. L. ERICKSON. 

